ISLAMABAD: While most of the activities on the Kashmir Solidarity Day remained almost the same as they had been in the past, the behaviour of participants in the rallies held in the federal capital on Friday was not.

The day was observed with a higher degree of fervour and enthusiasm compared to previous years, especially 2015. The day is mainly observed by groups who have jihadi links. In 2015, all such groups and parties were ‘on the back foot’ after the enactment of the National Action Plan (NAP) in January that year.

Most of the activities organised by former jihadists on Friday witnessed stern criticism of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and soft praises for army chief Gen Raheel Sharif.

The key event of the day was a disciplined ‘Solidarity with Kashmir’ conference organised by Jamatud Dawa (JuD) outside the National Press Club. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the chief of JuD, made his public appearance in Islamabad after about three years.

Not only was the conference heavily attended by workers and followers of the party, it also showcased the high degree of technical advancement made by JuD. Security personnel of JuD stationed at various positions wore jackets of different colours - clearly defining their duties.

Jihadi elements take out rallies to express solidarity with the Kashmiris

Young bearded men wearing shalwar kameez not only operated cameras but scores of them were also busy streaming the event through laptops, responding live at social media and even managing live coverage through mobile phones using power bank. They also wore different ‘cyber team’ jackets.

The conference was attended by central leaders of religio-political parties who have been involved in Kashmir jihad. Senate Deputy Chairman and central leader of JUI-F, Abdul Ghafoor Haidary, also participated in the conference.

Mr Haidary said there could not be peace in the region without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“Both India and Pakistan are pitching their resources in defence while hundreds and thousands of citizens do not have food and shelter.” He also criticised the UN and the US for ignoring the Kashmiris besides turning a blind eye towards the issue of Palestine.

Though no such gathering was organised in the previous year, the focus of rallies in the past had been the violations of human rights by India and the failure of the world powers, including the UN to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Meanwhile, the only clean shaved man at the stage was Ahmed Raza Kasuri Advocate, who has close affiliation with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Kasuri deplored that Pakistan had confined the Kashmir cause to a ceremonial day only. “We need to look ahead and after developing a consensus among political parties there should be a full-fledged assault by Foreign Office against India,” he added.

Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil of Ansarul Ummah, Mian Aslam of Jamaat-i-Islami and some other speakers said linking the jihad in Kashmir with terrorism was a conspiracy of the West. They accused the political leadership of developing personal friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is strange to see that the prime minister of an ideological Islamic country (Nawaz Sharif) is talking of making Pakistan a liberal and secular country while the premier of a constitutionally secular country (India) is an extremist and involved in terror activities,” Maulana Khalil said.

In the concluding speech, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed called upon Nawaz Sharif to own the Kashmir cause and lauded the Mutttahida Jihad Council. “They came to the rescue of Pakistan after the Pathankot attack and it is time that we too own the Kashmiris.

“Our army chief recently said Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of partition,” Hafiz Saeed said. “The prime minister is bound to follow the path of Quaid-i-Azam, Liaquat Ali Khan and the founding fathers. He should not betray the Kashmir cause.”

Incidentally, in the year 2015, only few rallies were organised to mark the Kashmir Day and JuD held a rally from Zero Point to Aabpara chowk led by its leader Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki who only criticised the UN and the US for their indifferent attitude towards Indian brutalities and human rights violations in Kashmir.

In another development this year, a rally was held under the Kashmir Yekjehti Unity but its organisers were the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and Ansarul Ummah.

However, the workers and leaders of both the groups did not carry their party banners or flags and possibly for the first time held the portraits of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

The rally started from Lal Masjid after Friday prayers and ended at Aabpara Chowk. The speakers openly criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for failing to play his role in the Kashmir issue.

The speakers included leaders of ASWJ, PTI, Jamaat-i-Islami, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith and the JUI-S. They demanded the government launch a Jihad against India.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2016